Housekeeping:
What does ♮ mean?
In music, the ♮ symbol indicates the term “natural.” It means a pitch that was previously modified as being sharp (#) or flat (♭) is now being played unmodified. Put simply, that looks like playing a white key on the piano where a black key might have previously been called for. 🎹
Why A♮?
I’m leaning into talking more about my Autism, particularly what it means for me as a musician. It’s only natural (♮) that some people should be Autistic. We have a lot to contribute to the world intellectually, artistically, and interpersonally. We are valuable and worthy of belonging regardless of how much support we need to participate.
I’m going to fight for more access for us in the music industry - which is notoriously inaccessible for disabled artists. This is a continuation of my work for social justice in a post-Trump (but, sadly, not post-Trumpist) world.
What is this going to be like?
If you’ve read this far, then you’re invested in what I think about the world and I appreciate you. I started A♮ because the demise of Twitter left me with nowhere to share my thoughts about music and ideas and the world with people like you.
A♮ is going to be that place.
For now, all of my posts will be free. Once I get up and running, I’ll charge $1/month for access to all of my content - which will include more demos of new songs as I write them, personal essays, cultural and political commentary, and more. This tier is called “the journey.” All previous crowdfunding supporters will be grandfathered into this tier with no further payment necessary. Ever.
Free subscribers (“the destination”) will get updates 3-4 times a year about album releases, tour dates, and things of that nature.
And so…
It’s only natural…
…that I should feel sheepish. After all, I’m overdue on delivering an EP that is still in post-production nearly two years after was supposed to be out in the world. 🐑
So, when is the EP coming out? The answer is April 2024, with single releases starting in February. Kickstarter backers will receive their digital downloads in December 2023, with sticker packs, pins, and other thank you gifts shipping around that time as well.
I’ll be touring to support the EP, including tour dates on the East and West Coasts. Those dates will be finalized by the fall so I’ll have more details for you then.
Why are you this far behind? There are a couple of reasons for the delay. I’ve already told some of you about my long covid and my major depressive episode, but what some of you may not know is that I also started a degree program at Berklee College of Music’s online division.
Why did I do this while working on an EP for you guys? Because I realized that I was going to need to level up - way up - to justify your investment in my work. I needed to become a better songwriter, a better harmony arranger, and a better live performer to make this EP everything it could be. So that’s what I’m doing.
And it’s working…
The Gift of Specificity
The degree I’m pursuing has a heavy focus on songwriting. What I learned in my classes is that specificity, especially in a first verse, is part of what makes a song great. That led me to make some minor to moderate lyrical changes on a couple of songs, primarily “The Girls You’ll Be,” and “These Days,” that have made them vastly better songs.
It’s also led me to be a more prolific (and I think better) songwriter. Here are a few demos1 of my more recent work.
Crying (written with Jeff Dean):
“Crying” started out as a song I wrote for my class on songwriting for film and television. The idea was to compose something that would be featured in an old episode of “Grey’s Anatomy,” specifically the scene where Meredith drowns.
After the class ended, I brought the song seed to my friend and collaborator Jeff Dean and this is a rough comp of what we came up with:
You Tell the Truth
I obsess about stories and this song was inspired by a pair of novels that I believe could make an excellent limited television series someday. If you catch the references in the lyrics and you can guess which two novels, then we really should be friends.
Holding Me Whole
All I’m going to say about this one is, “bad boys.”
The Gift of Live Performance
I’m also working on leveling up my live performance skills with a five-week intensive on campus at Berklee. (I’m writing this from my dorm room which, let me just tell you, is an interesting place to live when you’re 40 years old.)
I played a set at the 2023 sidewalk series - a big deal here - and also booked a slot in the extremely competitive Singers’ Showcase. (Hundreds tried out, ten were chosen.)
I’m working on getting a slot in the Singer-Songwriters’ showcase as well so keep your fingers crossed for me! 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼
Upcoming Shows:
August 7 - Berklee Singer’s Showcase - Boston, MA - Time and Location TBA
August 8 - Berklee Songwriting Ensemble - Boston, MA - Cafe 939 - 3pm
August 17 - WOWD Radio Takoma Park - Takoma Park, MD - Listen Live
Even before this, Berklee has made me a more confident performer. Here’s a recent short set I played at an open mic in West Seattle.
In Conclusion
Thanks so much for being part of this topsy turvy journey with me. I continue to be astonished by and grateful for your support. 💖
For those of you who don’t know, a demo is a rough sketch of a song recorded at home with digital instrumentation and a basic groove. It’s not meant to be a finished product.